Understanding scheduling algorithms

The scheduling engine in Oracle Primavera is robust and powerfully complex. However, with a few simple rules and clear training, good schedulers will easily adopt Primavera as their tool of choice. Quite simply, the algorithm for determining start and finish for an activity is this:

Duration = Units / Units per Time

However, there are many other settings that can create a desired effect in that calculation.

Tip

Keep in mind that each industry has a different database setting during installation. If you choose to install the engineering and construction database, then the word Original is used instead of Planned in column headings. In some industries, Budgeted is used instead of Original or Planned. If your organization uses the EPPM via web and is also using the optional client, install the Information Technology (IT) industry database to have the columns match in each tool.

Scheduling using CPM and P6

When you create a project, you will input activities...